I've been looking for a Model 16 for a long time. I "settled" for a 16-4 a couple years ago. It's a great gun, but just doesn't scream K-32 to me. (no, no, no.... it's not for sale)

Today I scratched my K-32 itch. Model 16-2 serial K571xxx became available due to the sad death of one of our club members. His widow is selling his guns. Thankfully another member is helping her to value them and get fair prices.

The revolver has been shot a bit but was well cared for and remains in excellent condition. The ejector rod is worn and there's a bit of muzzle wear. The face of the Patridge sight has red paint on it. I think the stocks are correct but probably not original as there's no serial number on either side. It has an aftermarket trigger shoe of unknown make. All this is just fine with me.

I will be shooting this revolver as it was intended to be. I think it's some comfort to the widow that I will use it and not simply flip it or make it a safe queen.

Here's a couple obligatory pictures.

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That is a stunning example! Congratulations!

Me, I would dump that trigger shoe immediately!

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FBINA, 204th Session

Agreed. That needs to go, IMHO.

Beautiful gun, Krogen. And aside from the reason you were able to acquire it, I'm happy you ended up with it.

I'm still kicking my own butt for not buying a brand new Model 16-3 when I came back to the World. They were everywhere then, and the prices were still down around $140. I bought several other Smiths, but wasn't prescient enough to get a K-32. Dumb, dumb, dumb!

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Very nice! I’d lose the trigger shoe, but other than that, I agree with you 100%. BTW, that is not a snobbish anti-trigger shoe statement, though it may seem so. I just prefer the standard width trigger. Anyway, what a nice K32! Congratulations!

Beautiful gun - congratulations!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

fantastic gun.........congratulations and glad you will enjoy it.

I have one gun that a trigger shoe resides on..............my favorite.

I think the stocks are correct but probably not original as there's no serial number on either side.

target stocks were very seldom numbered to a gun as they didn't need to be.

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Paul
S&WCA #2726

Thanks for the kind words, everybody! It was one of those cases where if you snooze, you lose. Fortunately I was wide awake.

I have mixed feelings about the trigger shoe. It's probably period-correct and I do like wider triggers. But it bugs me a bit as does the red paint on the front sight. Both issues are correctable and I hope the shoe didn't leave marks on the trigger - easy enough to find out.

I appreciate the comment about non-numbered target stocks. I figure this is the way the gun was shipped since there weren't any Magna stocks in the box. The box: Forgot to tell you guys. It came in a gold box, somewhat worn, but numbered to the gun. Has the paper literature, but no tools.

And to JP@AK: Thanks, bud. Grateful you made it back from over there. $140 for a 16-3 is a stunner considering today's prices. But then, gas was, what..., 25 cents a gallon?

Thank you.

When I came back, my final duty station was in California. As I recall, gasoline was selling for .25-.30 per. When I was in high school, we could buy Ethyl (105 octane) for 19 cents! I thought .30 was ridiculous.

And speaking of gasoline, my brother had a new ride waiting for me when I came home. Here's a pic:

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

That's a good looking Chevelle your brother had waiting for 1965 if I'm correct and was the last year of the more squarish body style.
When I was assigned to my first duty station in Mayport FL there was a gas war going on and it was 19 cent a gallon, seems like a lifetime ago.

Congratulations on a great buy, and condolences on the loss of your friend. I just had a reproduction built, because in 1971 I was fresh out of college and starting a teaching career as a substitute... $140 then was about as easily raised as $14,000 would be today. It's taken me this long to get in a position to own one, albeit and recreation. There is just something about an old school K-frame Masterpiece, isn't there?

BTW, your 16-4 probably may be tempting to rebore to 327 Fed Mag. It's just hitting its peak as a collectible now, but it won't lose all that much value with the rechambering and will be a whole lot of fun to shoot. Trust me on this!

Froggie

This one gets shot at every range trip!

That's a gorgeous revolver, trigger shoe notwithstanding.

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Oh well, what the hell.

Thanks. It was a great car.

Yes, 1965. They only made this body style for two years, 1964 and 1965. The '64 was a bit more squarish in the front fender/grille area, and had slightly larger taillights.

The rest of the story is, my brother surprised me with this car. I asked how much I owed him for it. He looked at me and said, "I have $150 in it for parts. Pay me that and we are even." He bought it with no motor and a 5.56:1 rear diff that he wanted for his race car. He had a small block and a Muncie sitting around his shop, rebuilt the motor and tore apart the tranny to make sure it was okay. Then he installed them along with a set of 3.73:1 rear axle gears. The $150 in parts was for the motor rebuild.

God bless him.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Gorgeous revolver, MrG5122! Good to hear you shoot it. While I understand collectors' motives, I really admire people who shoot their collectibles.

Let's see some more pics of K-32s that get used!

I have to grin at the trigger shoe comments. It's as if my revolver has a wart on its foot . . .

It does!!!

Actually, the objection is practical more than aesthetic. I have some shoes in a drawer above my reloading bench. All were taken off guns I have acquired over the years.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

When I returned stateside after a couple of tours in VN, I got a '65 Malibu that looked like that but with 4 doors.


Speaking of shootable .32 Masterpieces, I got this M16 ND project I'm gonna restore some day. Stocks and ramp front sight aren't original, Roy says.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629